Prek Toal, located within Cambodia’s Tonle Sap floodplain, is a core zone of the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve and represents one of the most important freshwater wetland ecosystems in Southeast Asia. The site is characterized by extensive seasonally flooded forests, wetlands, and open water systems that support exceptional biodiversity. It is globally recognized for sustaining large breeding colonies of waterbirds, including several threatened species of international conservation importance. Driven by the Tonle Sap–Mekong flood pulse, seasonal hydrological dynamics underpin high biological productivity and maintain the ecological integrity of this unique wetland system.

 

The site is also critical for local livelihoods, supporting fishing-dependent communities that rely on its rich natural resources for food security and income. Prek Toal provides essential ecosystem services, including fisheries production, flood regulation, and habitat provision. However, increasing pressures from overfishing, habitat degradation, hydrological alterations, and climate change threaten its long-term sustainability. Strengthening site-based management, conserving flooded forests, and promoting sustainable, community-based livelihood options offer key opportunities to enhance resilience, improve incomes, and reinforce stewardship while safeguarding the ecosystem services of this globally significant wetland.